MBB in playoffs for third consecutive season

Bret Pallotto

Sports Editor

bmp6070@lhup.edu

Photo via golhu.com

Six seniors took the court at Thomas Fieldhouse for the final time on Feb. 13, but they were able to do so knowing they clinched a playoff berth for the third straight season, which has not been accomplished since the 1988-90 seasons.

Al Blount, Tracy Peal, Elijah Cooper, Julian Bond, Lamin Fulton and Dave Garcia were honored before the game, but the emotion of the day was unable to lead the Bald Eagles to a victory over the Huskies of Bloomsburg. Head coach Mike Nestor’s team played Bloomsburg close in the second half (46-44), but the 50-32 deficit that was established in the first half was too much to overcome.

With 8:05 left in the first half, Bloomsburg was up four, 27-23, but, from that point on, Lock Haven only made three field goals to close out the first half. Over that same period of time, Bloomsburg went 7-14 from the field and went 8-8 on their free throws.

For the game, the Huskies shot 33-55 (60.0 percent) from the floor and 8-13 (61.5 percent) from three-point range.

Junior Brahieme Jackson did yeoman’s work in the defeat posting a team-high in points (27 on 10/14 FG), rebounds (12), assists (3) and steals (3). Jackson’s performance earned him his fourth double-double this season and his points and rebounds were the most for a Bald Eagle this season.

Ra’eese Hunt, who has scored double-digit points in three straight games, continues to see an increase in his minutes. Hunt has seven starts this season with six coming in the last eight games. He did not draw the start against Bloomsburg, but still played 26 minutes.

The Bald Eagles’ final two games of the regular season are on the road against Shippensburg (Feb. 17) and East Stroudsburg (Feb. 20). Shippensburg is currently fifth in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) East division and East Stroudsburg maintains the third spot.